WATCH: Reigning champs hope to repeat victory

Derek Knight, left, and Emma Forbes, both of Bathhouse Soapery, hold the trophy for The Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs. The soap shop is the sponsor of the race and the defending champion. - Photo by Tanner Newton of The Sentinel-Record
Derek Knight, left, and Emma Forbes, both of Bathhouse Soapery, hold the trophy for The Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs. The soap shop is the sponsor of the race and the defending champion. - Photo by Tanner Newton of The Sentinel-Record

Two years ago, the team representing Bathhouse Soapery went the distance at The Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs, winning the World Championship in the Traditional Tub Division, and now, after waiting out a year due to the pandemic, the team hopes to hang on to the title.

In addition to being the reigning and defending champions, Bathhouse Soapery is the presenting sponsor of the race.

"Two years ago we won; of course, COVID pulled it all down last year. It was amazing; it's competitive. It's hard. It is up and down Central Avenue three times," Pam Clark, manager of Bathhouse Soapery, said, noting "It's not easy. It's extraordinarily physical."

Clark said they have proudly displayed the trophy since they won it.

"That trophy is in the front window of our soap shop downtown. It's huge; we're very proud of it. We did it two years ago without a tire on it at the end, so it was literally being lifted and run on three wheels," Clark said.

"This year our tub rider is going to be Nicke (Weaver), who is our administrative assistant. This will be her first year being in the tub and she'll be steering and commanding, being pelleted with water from the water guns," Clark said.

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"This will be the first time I've ridden in the tub," Weaver said. "I am super excited to actually be in this tub this year. We've been doing some trial runs, and I've been learning how to drive a bathtub, which is always exciting. I don't think anybody else can just say that they've learned to drive a bathtub in their career."

"I'm bringing both of my 7-year-olds, so they are extremely excited to get to spray me with a water gun," Weaver said.

When asked if she is hoping to win, Weaver said, "Oh, we are definitely going to win."

The team intends to have an all-male crew to push Weaver in the tub.

Clark said with this race, "you just keep going" no matter what is thrown at the teams.

The race tub the shop is entering was formerly used as a decoration in the shop. "This tub used to be in the window of the store in Hot Springs. We pulled it out three years ago. It's gold, it's bedazzled, it's jeweled," Clark said.

"Bathhouse Soapery has been in Hot Springs for 11 years, created and founded by Charlene Simon, and what better way? I mean, it's the bathtub races, we're Bathhouse Soapery, handcrafted, made in Hot Springs, Ark. Hot Springs is known for bathing the world with the hot springs, we've got the soap, so two years ago Bill and Visit Hot Springs came to us and now we sponsor," Clark said.

One thing that will be different this year is spectators are asked not to throw water balloons this year.

"I'm thrilled, and I think Bill's doing a really great job of getting the word out not to get the balloons, because I'm a pretty big nature, hug a tree ... and I saw so many times between last night and this morning, his communication on that, so I was absolutely thrilled with that," Clark said.

Clark said she hopes people will come out to experience the race.

"The amount of people that are downtown that morning is incredible," Clark said, noting she attended the race for the previous six years prior to the soap shop entering the competition.

"If you haven't been to it, come to it. It's a blast. It's a one of one, it's a world championship, nowhere else does it," Clark said.

Nicke Weaver, administrative assistant of Bathhouse Soapery, sits in the bath tub she will pilot for the Soapery during the Running of the Tubs. Their team is the reigning, defending champion of the race. - Photo by Tanner Newton of The Sentinel-Record
Nicke Weaver, administrative assistant of Bathhouse Soapery, sits in the bath tub she will pilot for the Soapery during the Running of the Tubs. Their team is the reigning, defending champion of the race. - Photo by Tanner Newton of The Sentinel-Record
Jameson Norman, front, left, Nicke Weaver, back, left, Danielle Sisk, front, right, and Brittany Nussey, back, right, do a test run in Bathhouse Soapery’s race tub. - Photo by Tanner Newton of The Sentinel-Record
Jameson Norman, front, left, Nicke Weaver, back, left, Danielle Sisk, front, right, and Brittany Nussey, back, right, do a test run in Bathhouse Soapery’s race tub. - Photo by Tanner Newton of The Sentinel-Record
Jameson Norman, front, left, Nicke Weaver, back, left, Danielle Sisk, front, right, and Brittany Nussey, back, right, do a test run of Bathhouse Soapery’s race tub. - Photo by Tanner Newton of The Sentinel-Record
Jameson Norman, front, left, Nicke Weaver, back, left, Danielle Sisk, front, right, and Brittany Nussey, back, right, do a test run of Bathhouse Soapery’s race tub. - Photo by Tanner Newton of The Sentinel-Record

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